Ace and Benny help the Doctor investigate some disappearances – including his own…

The second story in this special set to celebrate International Women’s Day focuses on the two core characters from the early New Adventures era – Ace and Benny. It’s the Big Finish version of each that is featured (no space mercenary Ace here), with the emphasis, certainly for the first part of the story on Dorothy Gale McShane (as we’re reliably informed her full name is). The pair always work together well dramatically – they have vastly different backgrounds and approaches, but each has a dogged persistence that will see them through no matter what.

Lizzie Hopley’s script changes tone constantly – there’s some very light moments contrasted with some seriously unpleasant ideas (the concept of the books and what they’re made from scoring high on the latter) – and she gives Sophie Aldred and Lisa Bowerman plenty of strong material, without neglecting the roles for the guest cast. One of those stories where too much known beforehand will spoil the enjoyment, let’s just say that Helen Goldwyn’s direction ensures that you can follow all the twists and turns.

Verdict: Perhaps the most traditional of the stories here, it’s always good to hear Ace and Benny at work. 8/10

Paul Simpson